It also raised questions about whether parts of the discussion should be in private — including where expenses should be cut and strategy for approaching the Board of Supervisors to approve changes in the deal.

Government commissions and boards can only go into closed or “executive” session for limited reasons, like personnel matters, lawsuits or property negotiations.

That last one was the subject of Treasure Island board’s confidential meeting. Board member John Elberling, while saying the closed-session seemed appropriate that day, objected to plans for a confidential follow-up.

“I know why we’re going through this in exec session now, because it’s all tangled up with details of our deals, but we certainly have to present this same kind of analysis about where to cut or how to cut in public,” Elberling said.

Elberling balked when Jack Sylvan, the project manager with the mayor’s economic development office, suggested another closed session to get board feedback on options that include modifying affordable housing plans and delaying construction of a proposed ferry terminal.

“Basically we’re really not negotiating with the developer. We’re talking about priorities for public funding, and that’s an open topic. That’s an inherently open discussion,” Elberling said. “If the issue is, ‘Do you want to reduce affordable housing?’ that’s a public discussion, ipso facto … there’s nothing exec about it.”

The city attorney’s representative at the meeting said because the deal was so complex, “there’s not a clear line when you’re talking about price and terms of payment.”

“I think we walk a fine line, but it’s a good point that you made,” she said, “and I think we need to look closely where that line is.”

Sylvan acknowledged the issue should “absolutely” be in open session at some point, and now that looks like the board’s meeting next month. He also urged the board to move quickly in deciding how to bridge the funding gap. Those amendments to the term sheet with private developers — and the Navy land transfer deal — will have to approved by the Board of Supervisors.

“The sooner we can get these things buttoned up, the better,” Sylvan said. “If we miss June, we really are into September, October, and then we’re butting up against supervisor elections … We should do everything we can to try and get through the Board of Supervisors by June. Which means that we’re going to have to do a lot of work very quickly. And we’re going to have to push back a little bit against what will naturally be a desire for us to string out the process, have more hearings and meetings.”

Elberling took exception to that, too.

“One thing we can’t use our exec session for is to discuss political strategy with the board of supes,” he said. “That simply is not a protected topic, and we’ve got to watch out. It’s easy to … make difficult decisions in private when they really should be made in public.”

Asked about the topic later, city economic development chief Michael Cohen said: “We do a longer, more complete and more thorough public review process on development projects than any other major city in America.”